Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-06-21
STORIES OF STATESMEN.
GATHERED FROM THE LIPS OF
THEIR FRIENDS.

GATHERED FROM THE LIPS OF
THEIR FRIENDS
| TaTy for Sam Cox's Ancestors-Abrsham
Lincoln In Anger-A Story Of Mrs. Lin
coins Jealousy-Chief Justice Waite
and Commissioner Edgerton.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, June IS
| Sunset Cox showed me to-day, as a curios-
ity, the announcement Of the marriage Of a
daughter Of his paternal great great grand
father as it was published in the newspapers
Of New Jersey lbs years ago. 1t reads as fol-
lows:
"On Thursday last Francis Hopkinson,
ESQ, was Joined in the velvet bands of Hy-
men to Miss Nancy Borden, of this place, q
lady noted both for her internal as well o. ex-
ternal accomplishments, and In the words OF
the celebrated poet: kf az
without all shining and within all white:
Pure to the sense and pleasing to the sight"
Miss Nancy Borden was a daughter Of
Gen. Borden, who laid out the city Of Bor-
dentown, N. j., and he was also the grand
father Of Sunset Cox's grandmother Fran
els Hopkinson was one of the scholars of rev.
| dictionary days. He wrote number Of hu-
morous and patriotic poetical pieces, among
which were the Battle of the Kegsn and
others. He was a graduate Of Princeton, a
signer Of the Declaration of Independence
and member Of congress. His son Joseph
was one Of the ablest lawyers of his time and
was the author Of Hail Columbia"
Speaking Of "Hail Columbia" the music of
this song was at first known as the "Presi-
dents March" and it used to be played while
Washington was president by the orchestra as
he came into the theatre. Its music was COM
posed by fellow named Pfyles, and it was
played for the first time on Trenton bridge as
Washington rode over it on his way to be in
augurated. 1t became popular at once, and
Hopknson wrote and adapted these lines to it,
beginning "Hail Columbia" during political
campaign while John Adams was president.
The name "Presidents March" was then
dropped and it has since been known a.
Hail Columbia"
II am one Of the few people who ever saw
Abraham Lincoln angry"
The remark was made to me while was
going down to Mount Vernon tAe other day
by well known woman in Washington
society-a woman who has lived here for the
past thirty years, and who was an intimate
friend of President Lincoln's.
at was" she went on, Eat the time the
news of the massacre at Fort Pillow was re-
ceiyed at the White House. had called
upon President Lincoln and had been admit
ted He was deeply affected and he could
hardly contain his feelings. At this moment
a young woman whose young brother was
coutlncd in one Of our prisons called. Her
brother had been a Confederate soldier. He
had been drafted in the army and had served
against his will. He was under age at the
time, and the circumstances of the case were
extraordinary President Lincoln had prom
ised to consider the case, and If possible in
tercede in it The young woman had an ap-
pointment for this day and the president had
told her that he would give her an answer.
He told her, impatiently shaking his head,
that he could not do anything for her just
then. "They have treated my boys cruelty"
said he, "and cannot and will not do any
thing just now" The young woman per-
sisted and pleaded h,r case most feeingly,
out the president would not relent. He told
her she must call again, that he could not
grant any request at such time. doubt
not that he afterwards released her brother,
for he was very kind hearted, and it was sci.
dom that suppliant, whose case merited
attention, was permanently turned away"
The conversation here turned to Mrs. Lin
coln and the lady told me some stories which
carry out the general idea now entertained of
her, and the troubles which President Lincoln
had in keeping peace with her. She thought
the best explanation for the whole was that
the woman was not entirely compos mentis.
and that her actions upon the death of Lin
coin should be pardoned on this ground.
Mrs. Lincoln" said she, "sent a request to the
collector OF the port of New York for money
Is consideration for her having obtained
him his appointment, and l know the story
.bout the sale of President Lincolns shirts and
IF her dresses to be true"
~.
From another source get a story Of Mrs
Lincolns Jealousy of her husband which has
never been published, but which shows how
this jealousy cropped out long before he be-
came president. He was with his wife on n
visit to a friend at little town in Illinois. |
TO not give the town nor the friends name.
for the reason that the man is living, and the
story comes to me rather in confidence. Lin
roli,s friend and himself had gone down into
the town, and the friend had said to him that
this was his wifes birthday. and that he must
20 into bookstore and buy her q present.
The two entered the store together, and the
man bought an elegant album for his wife.
1t cost $40, and it was the only one of this
price in the store. Lincoln then said TO this
friend, 81 think l will buy one for Mary"
and he bought the next prettiest album left,
which cost only half the amount of that of
his friend When the two arrived at the
house Lincoln threw his package into his wife's
lap, and said, "Mary, have bought you
present." She opened it, saw the album and
was delighted. A moment later his friend
L 4 4
as birthday present As soon as Mrs Lin
coin saw that the other album was finer than
hers she became very indignant She spoke
sharply to Mr.. Lincoln, burst into a food of
tears, and taking the album laid it upon the
bed of glowing Goals in the fireplace. 1t
burned to cinders in an Instant Abraham
Lincoln said nothing. He must have been
greatly provoked, but the great ferbearance
Of his nature enabled him to overlook things